Watonwan County, Minnesota

Founding: 1860
Parent county: Brown
Namesake: The Watonwan River
Seat: Madelia (1860–1878); St. James (1878–)
Land area: 435 square miles
Population (2020): 11,253
Population (historic): 2,426 (1870); 7,746 (1890); 11,332 (1910); 12,802 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1900; 1910s
Subdivisions: Eight cities; 12 townships
National Register listings: Six
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,878 (37.1%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 55.4%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 4%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 2.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,236
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,513

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.6 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,402
Average farm size (1920): 161.2 acres
Sources of settlement: Norway, Sweden, Germany, Illinois, and Russia
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St. James

 
Namesake: Unknown
Founding: 1870 (platting); 1870 (post office); 1871 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 4,793
Population (historic): 444 (1880); 2,607 (1900); 2,808 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1880–1900; 1910s; 1930–1950
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 734 (37.4%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. August Feder Farm (c. 1895). 82126 280th Road. Madelia. Eastlake.
2. John Bisbee Farm (c. 1895). 609 West Main Street. Madelia. Eastlake.